The National tribune., 1887-12-08

there, but one glance showed me IL was no good
place for me. rs the woods below were swarm
ing with graycOats. j rode back 10 the cottage
and proceeded 10 investigate the collection OF
personal property strewn about the cottage
porch, which proved to be the hayersacks, re-
yolyers, pipes, hats, long shawls, etc, OF a
Generals STAFF, who had camped on the porch
for the night. Just at this time Gardiner rode
up and sung out, See here, Rogers give me
some Of that plumber lseized patent-leather
haversack aud threw il 10 Gardiner.
" Ii proved 10 be the rebel General Stuart 5
hayersack, and contained his yellow silk sash
and his full orders from Gen. Lee, giving him
command Of the advance of the army IN the
contemplated attack on Gen. Pope, with fun
information OF the movements Of the rebel
army. Upon these papers being given TO Col.
Broadhead, he Immediately dispatched them TO
Gen. Pope, aud probably saved Pope's army
from complete defeat IL not from annihilation.'
Won Borck's aud Rogers's stories agree very
well; bat Rogers must have been possessed
with powerful vision when he chased Won
Borck over that hill-porhaps a mirage or
some unexplained phenomenon occurred 10
occupy his attention until Won could escape.
But IL is the idea to-day with most Of the
survivors If the regiment who were there, that
the loWlauds below the ridge along which the
road ran that we were on was covered with
Confederate cavalry, and the men will tell
YOU what a sight IL was TO see those gray
Jackets almost tearing themselves 90 pieces IN
response 30 the calls of the bugles, boots and
saddles, = " assembly and +" so for that Yankee
horde!"
got no sight Of "the plain and woods
swarming with graybacks," but have told the
story hundreds OF times just as seriously as il
they had been there, for didn't think a whole
regiment would lie about 10 regiments of Con-
federGte cavalry. But we were fearfully de-
moralized Ourselves and horses completely
starved and worn out, our progress stopped, and
the thought Of
FIGHTING sTUART's CAVALRY IN FRONT,
flank and rear with the faintest hope Of secur-
ing ford-Our only hope Of relief-was 70 say
the least, "tiresome." The column trotted a
mile or two aud was kept at a rapid walk
afterward at least ID miles 20 Jacobs Ford or
below it, when we crossed the Rapidan about
2:30 in the afternoon. j think Capt Staggs
company had the advance all the way. Stagg,
Maxwell and Wheeler talked more about that
affair than all the rest Of the regiment.
Won Borck was mistaken abegt nearing the
rumbling of artillery far taere was none with
us, and Mai.-4Ogers is mistaken about the 5th
n. y. E..being along. lie got that mixed up with
that other raid month before, when We swan
the Rapidan at Rapidsn Station, and went 10
establish an advanced post at Gordonsyille, but
learned that that place was occupied.
We have no evidence so far that Stuart con-
templated any evil designs on us. or that he
even knew we were on the south side Of the
Rapidan. He and his staff took the cars AT
Hanover Courthouse the evening Of the 10th,
arrived at Orange Courthouse the morning OF
the 18th, spent the day at the headquarters OF
/ Gems Lee, jackson and LongstTeet, visited the
signal station on Clark Mountain, of which
Won Borck gives glowing description, and
| then retired TO Aerdiersville expecting TO meet
/ Fitz Lees Brigade, but was sOrely disappointed
| Whether mostly az the failure TO intercept the
raiders or in the contemplated advance Of the
morning we are not told.
In Campaigns Of Stuart's Cavalry" page
go is the following: +" In his report Of this cir
cumstance, Stuart Is unjustly severe on Fit
] Lee. Had the latter understood that lie wa
expected az Raccoon Ford on the evening o.
the 18th, he would have been there. fall Of
| hungry bot his orders indicated nothing q
1 the eXiCrnccs of the case, and he deemed him
! self fully at liberty 10 provide his men with
the necessary rations. lie was made aware o
Stuarts structures, bat mgniully preferred Il
rest under Rn iujnstice rather than engage in !
wordy controversy with has commander II
was the intention Of the commanding Genera
that the rnvalry should cross the RapidAn oI
the 18th and ondeavor 20 gain the rear Of ih'
enemy on the railroad aud destroy the bTidg'
over the Rappahannock"
Ia the February Cal'H5g OF ls56 II an hrticll
by Gen. Lougsircei. finishing M with a nara
iiun OF another disappointment that was yer,
favorable . us and P0pe's army. That narra
tive Is as follows;
"Gon. Tsombs. our Georgia eater, wa
given 60 critcizing pretty severely all the of
Gers Of the oid-time Regular Army who hai
Joined their fortunes with those Of the Confed
eTacy. lie Vas hoiblOodod and impatient, an,
cRAFED AT THE DELAYS
Of the commanders in their preparations 70
battle. HIS general idea was that the troop
went out % fight, and he thought that the.
should be allowed TO 20 at II AZ once.
An incident that occurred in the secon,
Manassas campaign will serve 10 illustrate hi
characteristic hotheadedness. As we were pre-
pairing TO cross the Rspidan, Stuart sent m
word that he had cut of large cavalry fore
and had all the fords guarded but one. III
asked that j detail force 10 guard that poiTl
of escape. The work was assigned 10 the CON
mand of Gen. TOombs, who was absent at tia
moment lie had met wealthy Kirginiar
named Morton, whom he had known in Con
gress aud was out dining with him. They weI
both good liyers. and loved to have their friend
with them.
lin going back TO his command Gen Toomt
came upon his troops on the road and inquire
what they were doing there. The explanatio
I
and felt independent. lie said be would Civ
! the General TO understand that he must cor
suit him before sending his troops out TO guar
ford, and thereon ordered them back 20 cam
As the mystifed troops marched solemnly bac
; the matter was reported TO me, and /
ORDERED TooMBs UNDER ARREST.
al allowed him 10 ride with his command
! we marched against Pope and expected
5 would make some explsnat pa Of his conduC
S He did not do so, and sent him back TO Go
, donsyille in arrest. As / was leaving the Ra
|, pahannock ] received a long letter of apOlog
and directed him TO join his command. As v
: were preparing TO charge at Manassas, Tooml
0 got there. ] was just sending a courier TO Ia
command with dispatch.
"'Let me carry it, he exclaimed.
( "With pleasure j responded, and hsndC
: the paper to him."
D Notwithstanding Toombs marched the bl
: gade back 10 camp il is very probable that
4 watched at RaccoOn Ford that night, as by Il
: "lost order" Longstreet was assigned 10 ia
o route, and there was something between
a aud that ford that made il imperative for us
Q look farther down for a crossing.
0 This little story Of Longstreet's makes
: evident that Stuart was aware Of the fact
; there being Yankee command south Of d
f-riVer, and by the occupation Of the upper for
e by the infantry he, with Fitz Lees and Robei
4 sons brigades Of cavalry, could easily gobf
= every man Of the raiding party and make q
4 advance al the prescribed time aud place.
e No wonder Stuart was severe on Fitz Lee
Jf the disappointment. But for the precautOn
e, sending Mosby and Gibson 10, as he suppos,
4, halt the column and send Lee 10 him for
I a. 4. n f-